Latin america has been an important place for architecture for many decades. masters like Luis Barragan, Eladio Dieste or Oscar Niemeyer pointed the way for architectural design all over the world, and their approach to colours. materials and walls had a deep and lasting influence on architectural modernism. Since then, however -and especially in the last 15 years- architecture on the continent has continued to evolve, and a lively and extremely creative architecture scene has developed. the work of latin american architects and city planners is often guided by social issues, for example, the approach to informal settlements on the outskirts of big cities.